This chapter contains information on crops and livestock numbers in Ireland for the period 1854 to 2014. The statistics are drawn from CSO surveys and administrative data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Livestock Slaughterings provides details on the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered. These figures include slaughterings at both meat establishments approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by Local Authorities under S.I.432 of 2009.
21.1 Area under crops and pasture in June | |||||||
Hectares (thousands) | |||||||
Crop | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
Total wheat | 110.7 | 84.5 | 77.8 | 94.2 | 98.0 | 60.6 | 71.6 |
Winter | 87.5 | 64.3 | 59.8 | 77.7 | 84.6 | 45.4 | 65.1 |
Spring | 23.2 | 20.2 | 18.0 | 16.4 | 13.5 | 15.2 | 6.5 |
Total oats | 22.9 | 20.4 | 19.7 | 21.4 | 23.7 | 26.7 | 18.6 |
Winter | 18.7 | 9.1 | 10.3 | 9.0 | 9.9 | 5.4 | 10.1 |
Spring | 4.2 | 11.3 | 9.4 | 12.4 | 13.8 | 21.3 | 8.5 |
Total barley | 187.2 | 193.6 | 174.8 | 180.6 | 192.8 | 219.4 | 215.7 |
Winter | 21.1 | 19.3 | 28.8 | 35.9 | 41.0 | 36.0 | 60.1 |
Spring | 166.0 | 174.3 | 146.0 | 144.8 | 151.8 | 183.5 | 155.6 |
Other cereals | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 |
Total cereals | 322.0 | 299.8 | 273.9 | 297.4 | 315.4 | 307.8 | 306.7 |
Beans and peas | 2.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 3.5 |
Oilseed rape | 5.6 | 6.3 | 8.0 | 12.4 | 17.5 | 13.7 | 9.4 |
Arable silage | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 3.5 |
Maize silage | 24.5 | 24.7 | 22.8 | 19.0 | 13.7 | 14.5 | 13.9 |
Potatoes | 11.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 10.7 | 9.5 |
Turnips | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
Beet | 9.2 | 10.8 | 9.6 | 8.2 | 7.8 | 10.1 | 10.3 |
Fodder rape and kale | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
Vegetables for sale | 3.7 | 4.4 | 4.9 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 |
Fruit | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 |
Nursery stock, bulbs and flowers | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Other crops | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.4 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.0 |
Total crops, fruit and horticulture | 385.0 | 369.4 | 353.9 | 365.4 | 382.1 | 377.2 | 367.7 |
Silage | 1,161.5 | 1,153.1 | 1,076.4 | 1,070.2 | 1,075.0 | 1,071.0 | 1,077.6 |
Hay | 267.2 | 245.7 | 193.8 | 213.2 | 203.5 | 218.4 | 217.9 |
Pasture | 2,314.9 | 2,333.7 | 2,507.6 | 2,459.3 | 2,391.0 | 2,337.7 | 2,308.4 |
Crops and pasture | 4,128.6 | 4,101.9 | 4,131.7 | 4,108.2 | 4,051.5 | 4,004.3 | 3,971.5 |
Rough grazing in use | 500.4 | 492.1 | 437.3 | 447.3 | 481.2 | 473.5 | 494.2 |
Area farmed | 4,629.0 | 4,593.9 | 4,568.9 | 4,555.5 | 4,532.7 | 4,477.8 | 4,465.8 |
Source: CSO and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
Interactive table: StatBank link
The total area farmed in 2014 was 4.5 million hectares. Crops, fruit and horticulture accounted for 8% of that area, silage for 24%, hay for 5%, pasture for 52% and rough grazing for 11%.
Wheat | Oats | Barley | Potatoes | |
1854 | 143 | 596 | 95 | 308 |
1855 | 155 | 612 | 89 | 309 |
1856 | 181 | 588 | 71 | 345 |
1857 | 192 | 565 | 81 | 359 |
1858 | 185 | 561 | 74 | 360 |
1859 | 157 | 568 | 69 | 374 |
1860 | 157 | 560 | 71 | 361 |
1861 | 133 | 574 | 78 | 349 |
1862 | 118 | 565 | 76 | 311 |
1863 | 87 | 566 | 69 | 315 |
1864 | 96 | 526 | 70 | 322 |
1865 | 93 | 496 | 72 | 330 |
1866 | 102 | 488 | 61 | 323 |
1867 | 88 | 475 | 69 | 308 |
1868 | 93 | 486 | 75 | 320 |
1869 | 87 | 481 | 90 | 320 |
1870 | 80 | 461 | 97 | 319 |
1871 | 74 | 458 | 89 | 322 |
1872 | 66 | 451 | 88 | 301 |
1873 | 50 | 415 | 92 | 272 |
1874 | 57 | 403 | 85 | 270 |
1875 | 47 | 408 | 93 | 272 |
1876 | 35 | 407 | 88 | 266 |
1877 | 42 | 403 | 90 | 262 |
1878 | 48 | 380 | 97 | 254 |
1879 | 48 | 356 | 101 | 252 |
1880 | 45 | 378 | 87 | 247 |
1881 | 47 | 383 | 83 | 257 |
1882 | 46 | 385 | 74 | 252 |
1883 | 27 | 381 | 73 | 242 |
1884 | 19 | 371 | 67 | 240 |
1885 | 20 | 363 | 71 | 239 |
1886 | 19 | 365 | 72 | 239 |
1887 | 18 | 362 | 65 | 238 |
1888 | 29 | 348 | 68 | 239 |
1889 | 28 | 335 | 74 | 235 |
1890 | 28 | 329 | 73 | 232 |
1891 | 24 | 328 | 71 | 222 |
1892 | 22 | 330 | 70 | 218 |
1893 | 16 | 336 | 67 | 212 |
1894 | 14 | 340 | 66 | 211 |
1895 | 10 | 329 | 69 | 208 |
1896 | 11 | 318 | 69 | 206 |
1897 | 13 | 313 | 68 | 199 |
1898 | 15 | 313 | 63 | 195 |
1899 | 15 | 301 | 67 | 194 |
1900 | 15 | 293 | 69 | 191 |
1901 | 13 | 293 | 64 | 186 |
1902 | 13 | 287 | 67 | 183 |
1903 | 11 | 293 | 63 | 181 |
1904 | 9 | 287 | 63 | 179 |
1905 | 11 | 283 | 62 | 177 |
1906 | 13 | 287 | 70 | 178 |
1907 | 12 | 290 | 67 | 172 |
1908 | 12 | 286 | 61 | 169 |
1909 | 14 | 276 | 64 | 167 |
1910 | 15 | 289 | 67 | 173 |
1911 | 15 | 284 | 63 | 172 |
1912 | 15 | 281 | 66 | 170 |
1913 | 11 | 284 | 68 | 168 |
1914 | 12 | 281 | 68 | 167 |
1915 | 29 | 299 | 57 | 172 |
1916 | 26 | 294 | 60 | 172 |
1917 | 43 | 420 | 71 | 210 |
1918 | 55 | 457 | 74 | 205 |
1919 | 24 | 410 | 74 | 172 |
1920 | 18 | 366 | 82 | 170 |
1921 | 16 | 332 | 68 | 166 |
1922 | 15 | 311 | 66 | 165 |
1923 | 15 | 295 | 59 | 161 |
1924 | 13 | 279 | 63 | 159 |
1925 | 9 | 272 | 59 | 154 |
1926 | 12 | 262 | 57 | 152 |
1927 | 14 | 261 | 49 | 148 |
1928 | 13 | 262 | 52 | 147 |
1929 | 12 | 270 | 48 | 147 |
1930 | 11 | 261 | 47 | 140 |
1931 | 8 | 252 | 47 | 140 |
1932 | 9 | 256 | 42 | 141 |
1933 | 20 | 257 | 48 | 138 |
1934 | 38 | 236 | 58 | 139 |
1935 | 66 | 249 | 56 | 136 |
1936 | 103 | 226 | 53 | 135 |
1937 | 89 | 232 | 53 | 132 |
1938 | 93 | 231 | 48 | 132 |
1939 | 103 | 217 | 30 | 128 |
1940 | 124 | 276 | 54 | 148 |
1941 | 187 | 317 | 66 | 173 |
1942 | 233 | 355 | 75 | 172 |
1943 | 206 | 379 | 85 | 165 |
1944 | 260 | 383 | 68 | 167 |
1945 | 268 | 338 | 69 | 157 |
1946 | 260 | 336 | 58 | 158 |
1947 | 235 | 334 | 59 | 155 |
1948 | 210 | 356 | 48 | 156 |
1949 | 147 | 278 | 64 | 142 |
1950 | 148 | 249 | 50 | 136 |
1951 | 114 | 251 | 68 | 130 |
1952 | 103 | 247 | 91 | 125 |
1953 | 143 | 231 | 76 | 125 |
1954 | 197 | 216 | 66 | 118 |
1955 | 145 | 221 | 86 | 116 |
1956 | 137 | 212 | 96 | 115 |
1957 | 164 | 186 | 124 | 108 |
1958 | 170 | 185 | 125 | 106 |
1959 | 114 | 187 | 135 | 105 |
1960 | 148 | 172 | 133 | 95 |
1961 | 140 | 149 | 146 | 86 |
1962 | 127 | 140 | 164 | 85 |
1963 | 94 | 134 | 174 | 83 |
1964 | 87 | 117 | 184 | 74 |
1965 | 74 | 115 | 188 | 71 |
1966 | 53 | 98 | 187 | 68 |
1967 | 76 | 96 | 183 | 65 |
1968 | 90 | 88 | 184 | 59 |
1969 | 82 | 77 | 198 | 55 |
1970 | 95 | 68 | 214 | 57 |
1971 | 91 | 60 | 235 | 52 |
1972 | 68 | 52 | 252 | 44 |
1973 | 58 | 50 | 243 | 48 |
1974 | 57 | 47 | 246 | 42 |
1975 | 45 | 49 | 245 | 41 |
1976 | 50 | 40 | 259 | 47 |
1977 | 48 | 35 | 298 | 53 |
1978 | 50 | 31 | 325 | 41 |
1979 | 50 | 28 | 350 | 41 |
1980 | 53 | 25 | 366 | 42 |
1981 | 49 | 23 | 354 | 36 |
1982 | 57 | 23 | 326 | 37 |
1983 | 59 | 23 | 305 | 33 |
1984 | 77 | 26 | 292 | 35 |
1985 | 78 | 25 | 284 | 32 |
1986 | 75 | 23 | 265 | 30 |
1987 | 56 | 23 | 255 | 29 |
1988 | 59 | 23 | 242 | 27 |
1989 | 61 | 22 | 237 | 25 |
1990 | 70 | 22 | 207 | 24 |
1991 | 86 | 21 | 193 | 20 |
1992 | 91 | 20 | 184 | 22 |
1993 | 79 | 20 | 181 | 22 |
1994 | 74 | 21 | 170 | 21 |
1995 | 71 | 20 | 179 | 22 |
1996 | 86 | 21 | 181 | 24 |
1997 | 94 | 21 | 190 | 18 |
1998 | 84 | 19 | 191 | 19 |
1999 | 68 | 20 | 192 | 18 |
2000 | 78 | 17 | 182 | 14 |
2001 | 85 | 17 | 182 | 14 |
2002 | 103 | 19 | 176 | 15 |
2003 | 96 | 21 | 183 | 14 |
2004 | 103 | 20 | 184 | 13 |
2005 | 95 | 17 | 164 | 12 |
2006 | 88 | 20 | 167 | 12 |
2007 | 84 | 21 | 168 | 12 |
2008 | 111 | 23 | 187 | 11 |
2009 | 85 | 20 | 194 | 12 |
2010 | 78 | 20 | 175 | 12 |
2011 | 94 | 21 | 181 | 10 |
2012 | 98 | 24 | 193 | 9 |
2013 | 61 | 27 | 219 | 11 |
2014 | 72 | 19 | 216 | 10 |
Interactive tables: StatBank link
The long-term decline in tillage is associated more with oats than with any other crop. The area of oats sown in 2014 was 19,000 hectares, representing 3% of the area sown in 1854.
The area of potatoes sown reached its highest value in 1859 at 374,000 hectares. From then onwards the area of potatoes sown has continued to decline with the exception of the war years. The lowest value was recorded in 2012 at just 9,000 hectares. In 2014 the area of potatoes sown was 10,000 hectares.
21.3 Number of livestock in June | ||||||||
Thousands | ||||||||
Description | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
Cattle | ||||||||
Bulls | 61.1 | 57.5 | 55.2 | 52.0 | 41.8 | 36.1 | 41.4 | 40.8 |
Dairy cows | 1,089.8 | 1,095.2 | 1,096.7 | 1,070.8 | 1,116.9 | 1,140.8 | 1,163.2 | 1,226.4 |
Other cows | 1,207.1 | 1,220.1 | 1,203.7 | 1,158.4 | 1,123.3 | 1,148.6 | 1,150.3 | 1,129.0 |
Cattle male: 2 years and over | 509.7 | 475.8 | 501.2 | 506.2 | 425.5 | 360.6 | 388.2 | 455.9 |
Cattle female: 2 years and over | 396.4 | 390.3 | 409.3 | 426.2 | 411.9 | 372.0 | 380.1 | 428.4 |
Cattle male: 1-2 years | 817.9 | 832.2 | 851.4 | 760.3 | 673.4 | 770.2 | 872.7 | 820.5 |
Cattle female: 1-2 years | 867.7 | 871.7 | 884.2 | 871.5 | 854.7 | 889.8 | 938.3 | 946.7 |
Cattle male: under 1 year | 947.1 | 969.4 | 918.2 | 826.7 | 891.9 | 1,023.2 | 959.2 | 901.6 |
Cattle female: under 1 year | 994.0 | 989.9 | 970.8 | 934.6 | 953.6 | 1,012.8 | 1,009.3 | 976.8 |
Total cattle male | 2,335.8 | 2,334.8 | 2,326.0 | 2,145.1 | 2,032.7 | 2,190.1 | 2,261.5 | 2,218.8 |
Total cattle female | 4,555.1 | 4,567.2 | 4,564.7 | 4,461.5 | 4,460.3 | 4,564.1 | 4,641.1 | 4,707.3 |
Total cattle | 6,890.9 | 6,902.1 | 6,890.7 | 6,606.6 | 6,493.0 | 6,754.1 | 6,902.6 | 6,926.1 |
Sheep | ||||||||
Rams | 89.6 | 81.8 | 73.9 | 80.0 | 73.7 | 77.7 | 80.4 | 77.5 |
Ewes | 2,854.2 | 2,614.1 | 2,451.0 | 2,449.5 | 2,435.2 | 2,589.3 | 2,358.4 | 2,513.9 |
2 years and over | 2,402.1 | 2,219.5 | 2,060.1 | 1,964.8 | 1,939.1 | 2,027.9 | 2,028.7 | 2,060.3 |
under 2 years | 452.1 | 394.6 | 390.9 | 484.8 | 496.1 | 561.4 | 539.5 | 453.6 |
Other sheep | 2,577.8 | 2,365.4 | 2,253.1 | 2,215.9 | 2,321.0 | 2,503.0 | 2,358.4 | 2,505.4 |
Total sheep | 5,521.6 | 5,061.4 | 4,778.0 | 4,745.4 | 4,830.0 | 5,170.0 | 5,007.0 | 5,096.8 |
Pigs | ||||||||
Boars | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
Female breeding pigs | 163.6 | 155.7 | 147.4 | 159.7 | 154.9 | 144.6 | 146.5 | 150.3 |
Other pigs classified by liveweight | 1,422.4 | 1,304.6 | 1,236.2 | 1,354.9 | 1,392.8 | 1,425.0 | 1,404.6 | 1,403.6 |
20 kg and over | 972.5 | 916.0 | 865.0 | 961.5 | 972.0 | 980.7 | 955.8 | 962.6 |
under 20 kg | 449.9 | 388.7 | 371.3 | 393.4 | 420.8 | 444.3 | 448.8 | 441.0 |
Total pigs | 1,587.8 | 1,462.0 | 1,385.2 | 1,516.3 | 1,549.0 | 1,570.6 | 1,552.0 | 1,554.7 |
Horses and ponies | 89.2 | 95.7 | 98.1 | 106.0 | 106.0 | 111.1 | 101.6 | 95.0 |
Mules, jennets and asses | 7.2 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 7.5 | 8.7 | 9.8 | 8.2 | 8.1 |
Goats | 7.3 | 8.9 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 11.4 | 10.3 | 8.7 | 12.2 |
Farmed deer | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.2 | 5.2 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 |
Source: CSO and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
Interactive table: StatBank link
In June 2014 there were 6.9 million cattle, 5.1 million sheep and 1.6 million pigs.
Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
1854 | 2.792 | 3.507 | 1.096 |
1855 | 2.847 | 3.393 | 0.994 |
1856 | 2.868 | 3.477 | 0.759 |
1857 | 2.902 | 3.24 | 1.029 |
1858 | 2.955 | 3.297 | 1.207 |
1859 | 3.062 | 3.391 | 1.034 |
1860 | 2.898 | 3.35 | 1.049 |
1861 | 2.803 | 3.358 | 0.932 |
1862 | 2.617 | 3.27 | 0.954 |
1863 | 2.539 | 3.138 | 0.913 |
1864 | 2.636 | 3.181 | 0.896 |
1865 | 2.834 | 3.489 | 1.097 |
1866 | 3.022 | 4.029 | 1.236 |
1867 | 2.996 | 4.546 | 1.05 |
1868 | 2.953 | 4.85 | 0.751 |
1869 | 3.031 | 4.35 | 0.922 |
1870 | 3.081 | 4.065 | 1.221 |
1871 | 3.199 | 3.948 | 1.325 |
1872 | 3.268 | 3.964 | 1.16 |
1873 | 3.362 | 4.18 | 0.891 |
1874 | 3.348 | 4.172 | 0.916 |
1875 | 3.346 | 3.988 | 1.029 |
1876 | 3.342 | 3.765 | 1.165 |
1877 | 3.238 | 3.739 | 1.221 |
1878 | 3.271 | 3.847 | 1.068 |
1879 | 3.338 | 3.779 | 0.892 |
1880 | 3.212 | 3.341 | 0.729 |
1881 | 3.268 | 3.051 | 0.924 |
1882 | 3.283 | 2.88 | 1.17 |
1883 | 3.367 | 3.016 | 1.139 |
1884 | 3.384 | 3.059 | 1.071 |
1885 | 3.467 | 3.262 | 1.036 |
1886 | 3.423 | 3.132 | 1.033 |
1887 | 3.412 | 3.117 | 1.146 |
1888 | 3.347 | 3.35 | 1.111 |
1889 | 3.37 | 3.478 | 1.136 |
1890 | 3.501 | 3.955 | 1.286 |
1891 | 3.66 | 4.295 | 1.108 |
1892 | 3.716 | 4.396 | 0.905 |
1893 | 3.671 | 4.033 | 0.936 |
1894 | 3.617 | 3.741 | 1.116 |
1895 | 3.575 | 3.563 | 1.093 |
1896 | 3.623 | 3.717 | 1.125 |
1897 | 3.662 | 3.796 | 1.064 |
1898 | 3.691 | 3.911 | 1.031 |
1899 | 3.718 | 3.983 | 1.129 |
1900 | 3.804 | 3.98 | 1.045 |
1901 | 3.868 | 3.981 | 1.015 |
1902 | 3.942 | 3.821 | 1.1 |
1903 | 3.861 | 3.568 | 1.154 |
1904 | 3.866 | 3.468 | 1.096 |
1905 | 3.842 | 3.394 | 0.945 |
1906 | 3.836 | 3.352 | 1.001 |
1907 | 3.889 | 3.425 | 1.085 |
1908 | 4.02 | 3.703 | 1.046 |
1909 | 3.942 | 3.729 | 0.954 |
1910 | 3.934 | 3.6 | 0.99 |
1911 | 3.95 | 3.543 | 1.16 |
1912 | 4.049 | 3.466 | 1.1 |
1913 | 4.134 | 3.273 | 0.895 |
1914 | 4.237 | 3.234 | 1.084 |
1915 | 4.06 | 3.207 | 1.008 |
1916 | 4.167 | 3.355 | 1.089 |
1917 | 4.132 | 3.327 | 0.884 |
1918 | 4.093 | 3.218 | 0.859 |
1919 | 4.232 | 3.045 | 0.863 |
1920 | 4.261 | 3.016 | 0.887 |
1921 | 4.419 | 3.02 | 0.891 |
1922 | 4.375 | 2.794 | 0.938 |
1923 | 4.278 | 2.666 | 1.186 |
1924 | 4.268 | 2.726 | 0.987 |
1925 | 3.991 | 2.813 | 0.732 |
1926 | 3.947 | 3.003 | 0.884 |
1927 | 4.047 | 3.12 | 1.178 |
1928 | 4.125 | 3.263 | 1.183 |
1929 | 4.137 | 3.375 | 0.945 |
1930 | 4.038 | 3.515 | 1.052 |
1931 | 4.029 | 3.575 | 1.227 |
1932 | 4.025 | 3.461 | 1.108 |
1933 | 4.137 | 3.405 | 0.931 |
1934 | 4.086 | 2.931 | 0.968 |
1935 | 4.02 | 3.042 | 1.088 |
1936 | 4.014 | 3.062 | 1.017 |
1937 | 3.955 | 3 | 0.934 |
1938 | 4.056 | 3.197 | 0.959 |
1939 | 4.057 | 3.048 | 0.931 |
1940 | 4.023 | 3.071 | 1.049 |
1941 | 4.151 | 2.909 | 0.764 |
1942 | 4.084 | 2.693 | 0.519 |
1943 | 4.136 | 2.56 | 0.434 |
1944 | 4.246 | 2.663 | 0.381 |
1945 | 4.211 | 2.581 | 0.426 |
1946 | 4.146 | 2.423 | 0.479 |
1947 | 3.95 | 2.094 | 0.457 |
1948 | 3.921 | 2.058 | 0.457 |
1949 | 4.127 | 2.193 | 0.675 |
1950 | 4.322 | 2.385 | 0.645 |
1951 | 4.376 | 2.616 | 0.558 |
1952 | 4.309 | 2.857 | 0.719 |
1953 | 4.397 | 2.93 | 0.882 |
1954 | 4.504 | 3.113 | 0.958 |
1955 | 4.484 | 3.269 | 0.799 |
1956 | 4.537 | 3.439 | 0.747 |
1957 | 4.417 | 3.72 | 0.9 |
1958 | 4.466 | 4.174 | 0.948 |
1959 | 4.684 | 4.412 | 0.852 |
1960 | 4.471 | 4.314 | 0.951 |
1961 | 4.713 | 4.528 | 1.056 |
1962 | 4.742 | 4.671 | 1.111 |
1963 | 4.86 | 4.691 | 1.102 |
1964 | 4.962 | 4.95 | 1.108 |
1965 | 4.359 | 5.014 | 1.266 |
1966 | 5.59 | 4.664 | 1.014 |
1967 | 5.586 | 4.239 | 0.985 |
1968 | 5.572 | 4.077 | 1.063 |
1969 | 5.688 | 4.006 | 1.116 |
1970 | 5.957 | 4.082 | 1.193 |
1971 | 6.134 | 4.189 | 1.323 |
1972 | 6.438 | 4.26 | 1.199 |
1973 | 6.97 | 4.261 | 1.108 |
1974 | 7.215 | 4.06 | 0.923 |
1975 | 7.168 | 3.683 | 0.796 |
1976 | 6.954 | 3.475 | 0.925 |
1977 | 7.124 | 3.534 | 0.939 |
1978 | 7.098 | 3.427 | 1.031 |
1979 | 7.093 | 3.392 | 1.103 |
1980 | 6.909 | 3.292 | 1.031 |
1981 | 6.744 | 3.402 | 1.021 |
1982 | 6.728 | 3.571 | 1.057 |
1983 | 6.81 | 3.868 | 1.081 |
1984 | 6.807 | 4.074 | 1.036 |
1985 | 6.819 | 4.487 | 1.004 |
1986 | 6.616 | 5.012 | 1.003 |
1987 | 6.545 | 5.595 | 0.999 |
1988 | 6.464 | 6.656 | 1.014 |
1989 | 6.642 | 7.625 | 1.067 |
1990 | 6.816 | 8.539 | 1.194 |
1991 | 6.912 | 8.888 | 1.304 |
1992 | 6.951 | 8.898 | 1.386 |
1993 | 6.982 | 8.627 | 1.522 |
1994 | 6.996 | 8.404 | 1.53 |
1995 | 7.034 | 8.331 | 1.55 |
1996 | 7.314 | 7.888 | 1.621 |
1997 | 7.553 | 8.132 | 1.7 |
1998 | 7.64 | 8.312 | 1.819 |
1999 | 7.387 | 7.925 | 1.787 |
2000 | 7.037 | 7.555 | 1.722 |
2001 | 7.05 | 7.33 | 1.743 |
2002 | 6.992 | 7.21 | 1.785 |
2003 | 7 | 6.849 | 1.726 |
2004 | 7.016 | 6.777 | 1.653 |
2005 1 | 6.992 | 6.392 | 1.688 |
2006 | 6.978 | 5.973 | 1.643 |
2007 | 6.891 | 5.522 | 1.588 |
2008 | 6.902 | 5.061 | 1.462 |
2009 | 6.891 | 4.778 | 1.385 |
2010 | 6.607 | 4.745 | 1.516 |
2011 | 6.493 | 4.83 | 1.549 |
2012 | 6.754 | 5.17 | 1.571 |
2013 | 6.903 | 5.111 | 1.552 |
2014 | 6.926 | 5.097 | 1.555 |
Interactive table: StatBank link
The total number of cattle in the State increased gradually from 2.8 million in 1854 to 6.9 million in 1973, when Ireland joined the EEC (EU). Cattle numbers have ranged between 6.5 million and 7.6 million head since 1973.
The total number of sheep has fluctuated more widely from a low of just over 2 million in the late 1940's to a high of 8.9 million in 1992.
21.5 Livestock Slaughterings 2004-2014 | |||||||||||
000 head | |||||||||||
2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
Cattle | 1,815 | 1,685 | 1,774 | 1,771 | 1,665 | 1,600 | 1,717 | 1,643 | 1,484 | 1,589 | 1,749 |
Pigs | 2,711 | 2,657 | 2,658 | 2,615 | 2,578 | 2,421 | 2,657 | 2,905 | 2,973 | 2,904 | 3,043 |
Sheep | 3,565 | 3,613 | 3,488 | 3,264 | 2,919 | 2,730 | 2,383 | 2,411 | 2,691 | 2,874 | 2,850 |
Source: CSO |
Interactive table: StatBank link
Cattle and pig slaughtering in 2014 increased by 10% and 4.8%, respectively, in comparison to 2013.
Sheep slaughtering decreased by 1.3%
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